Jekyll And Hyde to face Ofcom investigation as complaints top 800
COMPLAINTS for ITV's controversial Sunday night drama Jekyll and Hyde will now be investigated by Ofcom after topping 800 complaints.
Charlie Higson penned Jekyll and Hyde
The broadcasting watchdog said today they will look into the big-budget show, written by Charlie Higson, after 459 people complained directly to the regulators and 380 more went directly to ITV.
The first episode, broadcast at 6:30pm ahead of The X Factor, showed a number of violent scenes including characters being killed by fire and another being bludgeoned to death.
An Ofcom spokesperson said in a statement: "Ofcom has carefully assessed a number of complaints about Jekyll and Hyde on ITV.
"We are opening an investigation into whether the programme complied with our rules on appropriate scheduling and violent content before the watershed."
Jekyll and Hyde launched last weekend
The show's dark moments have spooked viewers
Ofcom has carefully assessed a number of complaints
ITV defended the scheduling decision, saying: “ITV always considers carefully the content of its programming, and of course suitability for younger audiences is something we care about and give a great deal of thought to, hence our very specific announcement highlighting the fact that younger viewers may find Jekyll and Hyde scary.”
Although Ofcom is unable to force broadcasters to change their programming, they can impose hefty penalties.
Higson has defended the big-budget drama on Twitter, saying: "Seems to be a veritable twitterstorm of tweets in support of #JekyllandHyde telling scaredy cats to grow up and get with the modern world.
"Let’s ban everything that might give children nightmares. Clowns, Santa Claus, big dogs, that dressing gown on the back of the bedroom door.
The drama has not been rescheduled by ITV
"We can’t protect our children from being scared but we can prepare them for it by exposing them to harmless scares so they learn how to cope."
The second episode, due to air this Sunday, will continue along similar lines.
The Daily Mail reports that the opening scene will be a teenager lying on the floor with his head bleeding, before being attacked by a monster.
Jekyll and Hyde airs on Sunday at 6:30pm on ITV.